Yandex Beat Team Spirit 3-1

Team Yandex emerged victorious once again, claiming a 3-1 victory over the reigning International champions Team Spirit in the best-of-five final of BLAST Slam VIII. This win earned Yandex US$270,000 and marked their second major-event title of the 2026-2027 season, with Watson leading the charge with 19 kills and 14 assists.

Despite Spirit’s previous victory over Yandex in the seeding match, Yandex proved their dominance in the final showdown. Additionally, Yandex had recently secured the PGL Wallachia Season 9 title, making BLAST Slam VIII their second consecutive major win according to GosuGamers.

Three meetings, one final answer

The two teams took different paths through the group stage, with Spirit topping Group B and Yandex claiming first place in Group C. Although Spirit had initially defeated Yandex in the seeding matches, Yandex bounced back in the playoffs by defeating LGD Gaming and PARIVISION before ultimately triumphing over Spirit in the final.

Spirit earned their spot in the final by overcoming PARIVISION in the lower-bracket final. The intense final clash between Spirit and Yandex spanned four games, with Yandex ultimately securing the championship after winning three of the matches. The game durations were reported as 40, 52, 48, and 56 minutes.

Yandex’s victory over Spirit in the semifinals was a crucial step in their journey through the bracket, following their earlier matchup in the seeding stage.

Watson led the closing push

The final map solidified Yandex’s win, with Watson delivering an impressive performance of 19 kills, 14 assists, and five deaths. ATF contributed with 13 kills and 22 assists, while CHIRA_JUNIOR added 10 kills and 27 assists. Although Spirit had 37 kills compared to Yandex’s 51, the scoreline was not enough to force a decisive fifth game.

Yandex’s comeback began in game two, where ATF’s standout performance helped them level the series. Watson continued the momentum with a stellar performance in game three, securing a 2-1 lead for Yandex. Despite Spirit’s strong start in the opener, Yandex rallied to dominate the following maps.

A second major title for Yandex

This victory adds to Yandex’s impressive start following their win in PGL Wallachia Season 9. According to the GosuGamers report, ATF’s addition to the team was a significant move post-TI 2026, solidifying Yandex’s position as a top contender in the esports scene.

Spirit, on the other hand, secured the second-place spot with a prize of US$135,000. The tournament marked the debut of Batyuk and coach Ilya “IllidanSTR” Pevcaev, who joined the team after breaks from Collapse and coach Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov.

With back-to-back wins, Yandex has set a strong foundation early in the season as they prepare for upcoming challenges. While the journey to The International 2026 continues, the focus remains on Yandex’s impressive performance in the recent final showdown where they emerged victorious after a thrilling battle against Spirit.